Official unveiling of ATU marks ‘start of a new journey’ for west and north west

The third-level landscape in the west was changed utterly as the Atlantic Technological University was officially launched by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris last week.

Speaking at a landmark event at ATU Sligo and live-streamed to campuses in Galway, Mayo and Donegal, Minister Harris told a large gathering of students, staff and dignitaries — including ATU President Dr Orla Flynn and ATU Chair Maura McNally — that the new Technological University would play a pivotal role in the strategic regional development of the west and north west.

Minister Harris said the launch marked the ‘start of a new journey’ and added that the new ATU would become a ‘powerhouse’ in the region.

The formation of ATU creates university campuses in counties Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo for the first time while giving Galway city a second university option. It also offers students in surrounding counties the option of a TU education.

ATU will serve 21,000 students and be one of the largest multi-campus universities in Ireland with 8 campuses, research centres and iHubs. The university will be supported by 2,250 staff, delivering practice-oriented study and research.

Some 600-plus higher educational programmes will be available at all levels of the National Framework of Qualifications from apprenticeships to doctoral level qualifications.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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